Coming in at number 39 on our list is Coach Nick Aiello, the man in charge for Tioga Football.

If we did this list ten years from now, Nick Aiello might be in the Top 10, that's how quickly he's turned the Tioga Football Team into a State Powerhouse. Prior to 2011, Tioga Football appeared in just one Section IV Championship in the common era. Since then, Aiello and Co. have won all but one Section IV Class D Championship, creating one of the most dominant runs in New York State history with an average margin of victory of 26.5 points in Section IV title games. From 2012 to 2014, the Tigers were thwarted by Randolph. Then in 2015, Aiello squeaked by Bishop Kearney and Ticonderoga to win his first-ever State Championship.

The Tigers missed the Section IV Championship game in 2016, but once again continued their dominance in 2017, 2018 and 2019, though running into a wall in the State playoffs once more. 

Following COVID, however, the Tioga Tigers and Coach Nick Aiello became said wall, hammering teams having career years for their programs.

In 2021, 2022 and 2023, Tioga ran through their competition, winning three straight state Class D Championships. The Tioga Tigers have won 41 straight games, only three of which have been decided by one score, good enough for the fourth-longest active streak in the country.

For creating a powerhouse within Section IV and then levying that success into potentially the most dominant stretch in New York State Class D Football history and for his involvement in renovating Haggerty Field, Nick Aiello comes in at 39th on our Top 40 Most Impactful Local Sports Figures of All Time, a list he's sure to only rise in as the years go on and the wins keep adding up.

Be sure to stick with Fox 40 every weekday at 6 and 10 pm as we release one sports figure per night. Coaches, athletes, media members and contributors are all in consideration. Fox 40's Top 40 is sponsored by UHS Sports Medicine and UHS Orthopedic.

Number 40 was Bess Greenberg.